Blog of Dr. Miland Brown that features different aspects of world history. Not everything can be covered but sites dealing with any historical issue or topic are possible future posts. Also includes sites which discuss teaching history. Dr. Brown is an academic in North America.

Tuesday, July 27, 2004

William McKinley

William McKinley ( January 29 , 1843 - September 14 , 1901 ) was the 25th President of the United States , from 1897 until his assasination in 1901 .

McKinley was born in Niles, Ohio , January 29 , 1843 . He attended the public schools, Poland Academy, and Allegheny College . Following graduation he taught school, then at the start of the American Civil War enlisted in the Union Army on June 23 , 1861 , as a private in the Twenty-third Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered out as captain and brevet major of the same regiment in September 1865 .

Following the war, McKinley studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1867 . He commenced practice in Canton, Ohio . He was prosecuting attorney of Stark County, Ohio , 1869 - 1871 , and was elected as a Republican to the Forty-fifth, Forty-sixth, and Forty-seventh Congresses ( March 4 , 1877 - March 3 , 1883 ). He was chairman of the Committee on Revision of the Laws (Forty-seventh Congress). He presented his credentials as a Member-elect to the Forty-eighth Congress and served from March 4 , 1883 , until May 27 , 1884 , when he was succeeded by Jonathan H. Wallace, who successfully contested his election. McKinley was again elected to the Forty-ninth, Fiftieth, and Fifty-first Congresses ( March 4 , 1885 - March 3 , 1891 ). He was chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means (Fifty-first Congress).

McKinley was an unsuccessful candidate for re-election in 1890 to the Fifty-second Congress. He was a delegate to the Republican National Conventions in 1884 , 1888 , and 1892 . Standing for election with his running mate Andrew L. Harris , McKinley was elected Governor of Ohio in 1891 , and reelected in 1893 , serving until January 13 , 1896 . He was elected President of the United States in 1896 .